Share This

Giraffe species may only breed with each other based on the timing of rainfall in their local environments, according to new research published October 23 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, by Henri Thomassen and colleagues at UCLA.

Related Articles

Three types of giraffe species in East Africa are genetically distinct and rarely intermingle, even though they live in close proximity to each other. Given that these different giraffe species are capable of long-distance travel, and are known to breed together in zoos, it remains a mystery how they maintain such genetic diversity in the wild and why they choose to stay only within their species range.

To answer these questions, the authors here used a suite of powerful analytical methods and climate data to analyze the specific environments of genotyped giraffes. They tested four hypotheses that might explain the maintenance of these three distinct giraffe species: isolation-by-distance, physical barriers to dispersal, general habitat differences resulting in habitat segregation, or regional differences in the seasonal timing of rainfall.

They found that regional differences in the timing of precipitation, and the resulting increase in local vegetation and plants ("greening"), could best explain the source of genetic differences. Each species seems to be tied to their local seasonal cycle of greening, which is markedly different among species, suggesting that annual climate cycles may help maintain genetic and phenotypic divergence in giraffes.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Public Library of Science. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Public Library of Science. "Environmental factors help limit gene flow between different giraffe species." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 October 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131023183254.htm>.

Public Library of Science. (2013, October 23). Environmental factors help limit gene flow between different giraffe species. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 3, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131023183254.htm

Public Library of Science. "Environmental factors help limit gene flow between different giraffe species." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131023183254.htm (accessed March 3, 2015).

More From ScienceDaily

More Plants & Animals News

Featured Research

Mar. 3, 2015 — While studying a ground-nesting bird population near El Reno, Okla., a research team found that stress during a severe weather outbreak of May 31, 2013, had manifested itself into malformations in ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — The 3-D printing scene, a growing favorite of do-it-yourselfers, has spread to the study of plasma physics. With a series of experiments, researchers have found that 3-D printers can be an important ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a new study reveals that dietary ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — By examining the forces that the segments of mosquito legs generate against a water surface, researchers have unraveled the mechanical logic that allows the mosquitoes to walk on water, which may ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Pediatric otolaryngologists and surgeons are concerned with parents getting the wrong message regarding the safety/desirability of letting babies and young children eat peanuts to prevent them from ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Researchers have developed a new way of rapidly screening yeasts that could help produce more sustainable biofuels. The new technique could also be a boon in the search for new ways of deriving ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Similar to humans and animals, plants possess an innate immune system that protects them from invading pathogens. Molecular structures that only occur in pathogens enable their recognition and ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — For almost a century, scientists have been puzzled by a process that is crucial to much of the life in Earth's oceans: Why does calcium carbonate, the tough material of seashells and corals, ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — To simulate chimp behavior, scientists created a computer model based on equations normally used to describe the movement of atoms and molecules in a confined space. An interdisciplinary research ... full story

Featured Videos

Rare Goblin Shark Found in Australia

AFP (Mar. 3, 2015) — A goblin shark, a rare sea creature described as an &apos;alien of the deep&apos; is found off Australia and delivered to the Australian Museum in Sydney. Duration: 01:25
Video provided by AFP

Zookeepers Copy Animal Poses In Hilarious Viral Photos

Buzz60 (Mar. 2, 2015) — Zookeepers at the Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh, Australia decided to take some of their favorite animal photos and recreate them by posing just like the animals. Jen Markham (@jenmarkham) has the story.
Video provided by Buzz60

Related Stories

Nov. 17, 2014 — The Giraffe, a symbol of the African savanna and a fixed item on every safari’s agenda, is a fascinating animal. However, contrary to many of the continent’s other wild animals, these long-necked ... full story

Apr. 30, 2014 — Recently evaluated evidence suggests that organisms bred from different genetic lines have evolutionary advantages over more closely related members of the same species when colonizing new ... full story

Mar. 22, 2013 — Catching rides on cargo ships and fishing boats, many invasive species are now covering our shorelines and compromising the existence of our native marine life. Scientists have examined what factors ... full story

Feb. 28, 2013 — Want to know what you are eating? DNA barcodes can be used to identify even very closely related species, finds a new article. Results from the study show that the labelling of game meat in South ... full story

Dec. 17, 2012 — Tanzania has many different and diverse wildlife populations spread across a network of protected areas extending over the whole country. These wildlife populations are under threat from illegal ... full story

ScienceDaily features breaking news and videos about the latest discoveries in health, technology, the environment, and more -- from major news services and leading universities, scientific journals, and research organizations.